Bridge Encyclopedia

271 in-depth articles covering every aspect of bridge. No fluff — just clear, practical knowledge written by players who actually play the game.

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Conventions

Every convention explained clearly

41 articles
Bergen Raises: The Complete Guide to 3-Level Major Suit Raises Blackwood and RKCB: Ace-Asking for Slam Bidding Bridge Doubles: Complete Guide to All Types of Doubles in Bridge Bridge Slam Conventions: Your Complete Guide to Slam Bidding Tools Cappelletti (Hamilton): Defense to 1NT Openings Control Bids (Cue Bids) in Bridge: Your Guide to Slam Bidding Cue Bids: Show Controls for Slam Exploration Cuebid Raises: Show Strong Support After Opponent Overcalls Defense Against 1NT: Complete Guide to Competing Over Strong Notrump DONT: Disturbing Opponents' Notrump Drury: The Passed Hand Convention for Major Suit Support Flannery 2D: How to Handle 5 Hearts, 4 Spades, and 11-15 HCP Forcing Pass in Bridge: How to Share Competitive Decisions with Partner Fourth Suit Forcing: A Complete Guide to This Essential Bidding Convention Game Tries: Inviting Game After Major Suit Agreement Gerber Convention: Asking for Aces After Notrump Inverted Minors: The Essential Convention for Minor Suit Bidding Jacoby 2NT: The Complete Guide to This Essential Convention Jacoby Transfers: The Right Way to Show Five-Card Majors After 1NT Lead Conventions in Bridge: Your Partnership's Secret Language Lebensohl Convention: Handle Interference After 1NT Like a Pro Limit Raises: Show Invitational Strength with Trump Support Michaels Cuebid: Showing Two-Suited Hands Economically Minor Suit Stayman: Find Minor Fits After Partner's Notrump Multi 2D Bridge Convention: The Wild Card Preempt That Drives Opponents Crazy Negative Doubles: The Essential Convention Every Bridge Player Needs Negative Free Bids: Showing Suits Without Forcing Game New Minor Forcing: Find Major Fits After Partner's 1NT Rebid Puppet Stayman: Find 5-Card Majors After 2NT Opening Responsive Doubles: Compete Effectively After Partner's Takeout Double Roman Keycard Blackwood (RKCB): The Modern Slam Bidding Tool Splinter Bids: Show Support and Shortness in One Bid Stayman Convention: Finding 4-4 Major Fits After 1NT Support Doubles and Redoubles: Showing 3-Card Support After Interference Takeout Doubles in Bridge: The Essential Guide to Competitive Bidding Texas Transfers: Jump to Game with 6+ Card Majors Transfer Bids in Bridge: The Complete Guide to Jacoby and Texas Transfers Transfers After 1NT: The Complete Guide to Jacoby and Texas Transfers Unusual Notrump: The Two-Suited Overcall That Steals Your Opponents' Auction Weak Jump Overcalls: Disrupt the Auction with Strategic Interference Weak Two Bids: The Preemptive Weapon Every Bridge Player Needs
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General

Overviews and guides

53 articles
Best Bridge Books for Advanced Players: Expert-Level Theory and Deep Dives Best Bridge Books for Beginners: Start Your Bridge Journey Right Best Bridge Books for Intermediate Players: From Club to Tournament Level Bidding Over Interference: A Complete Guide to Competitive Auctions Bidding Systems Comparison Bridge Conventions for Beginners: Your Complete Guide to Getting Started Bridge Etiquette and Table Manners: The Unwritten Rules Every Player Needs Bridgetastic Encyclopedia: Your Complete Bridge Reference Charles Goren: The Father of Modern Bridge Competitive Bidding Mistakes Comprehensive Conventions Constructive Bidding in Bridge: Building to Game and Slam Defensive Play: Work with Partner to Beat the Contract Dummy Play: How to Plan and Execute as Declarer Endplays: Force Opponents to Help You Entries in Bridge: The Key to Moving Between Hands Entry Management in Bridge: The Key to Unlocking Winning Positions Forcing 1NT Response: The Foundation of 2/1 Game Force Free Online Bridge Learning Resources: Websites, Videos, and Apps Gambling 3NT: Open with a Solid Minor and Nothing Else Game Tries in Bridge: When to Invite Game After a Major Suit Raise Glossary Hand Evaluation: Beyond Counting Points How to Bid Slams in Bridge: A Complete Guide How to Study Bridge Effectively: Practice Methods That Actually Work Minor Suit Bidding in Bridge: When to Bid Clubs and Diamonds Omar Sharif: Hollywood Icon and World-Class Bridge Player Opener's Common Bidding Mistakes Opening Bid Strategy in Bridge: Complete Guide to Starting Strong Opening Leads: Win More Tricks from the First Card Partnership Bidding Breakdowns Penalty Doubles in Bridge: When and How to Double for Blood Planning the Defense in Bridge: A Complete Guide Preemptive Bids: Disrupt Opponents with Weak Hands Responder's Common Bidding Mistakes Responder's Rebid: Your Second Call Defines the Hand Reverses in Bridge: Show Extra Strength with Higher Rebids Ruff and Sluff in Bridge: The Defensive Error That Gives Declarer a Free Trick Ruffing Finesse in Bridge: When to Ruff Instead of Lead Sandwich Notrump: Compete with Both Unbid Suits Second Hand Low: When to Play Low and When to Break the Rule Slam Bidding Mistakes Smolen: Show 5-4 Majors After Partner's 1NT Strategy Guide The Duck in Bridge: When to Lose a Trick on Purpose The Finesse: Win Tricks with Inferior Cards The Forcing Defense in Bridge: Make Declarer Ruff Their Way to Defeat The Loser-on-Loser Play in Bridge: Master This Essential Technique The Simple Squeeze in Bridge: Master This Essential Endplay Technique The Throw-In Play in Bridge: Force Your Opponents to Give You Tricks Trump Management: When to Draw Trumps and When to Wait Unblocking in Bridge: When to Throw Away Winners Weak Two Openings in Bridge: Complete Guide to Preemptive Bidding
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Strategy

Think about the game at a higher level

38 articles
Balancing in Bridge: The Art of Borrowing Partner's Points Bridge Hand Probability Puzzles: Famous Problems Every Player Should Know Bridge Signals: Legal Communication Between Defenders Card Reading in Bridge: The Art of Deducing Hidden Cards Competitive Bidding in Bridge: When Both Sides Fight for the Contract Counting Points vs Counting Tricks in Bridge: Why Tricks Win Counting Points vs. Counting Tricks in Bridge Declarer Play Techniques in Bridge: Master the Art of Making Your Contract Defensive Carding in Bridge: Master the Art of Signaling Dummy Play in Bridge: Planning and Executing from Declarer's Perspective Endplays in Bridge: The Ultimate Guide to Throw-Ins and Eliminations Entries and Communication in Bridge: Managing Transportation Between Hands Fit Auctions in Bridge: How Finding a Fit Changes Everything Hand Evaluation in Bridge: The Complete Guide to Valuing Your Cards IMP Strategy: How to Win at Teams and IMPs Scoring Leads Against Slams: When Normal Opening Lead Rules Don't Apply Matchpoint Strategy: How to Win at Pairs Events Opening Leads in Bridge: The Only Decision You Make Blind Preemptive Bidding in Bridge: Taking Away Their Bidding Space Restricted Choice in Bridge: The Mathematical Principle That Improves Your Finesses Second Hand Low, Third Hand High: When to Follow and When to Break the Rules Slam Bidding in Bridge: When to Bid, How to Explore, and How Not to Go Down Suit Distribution Probabilities in Bridge: The Numbers Every Player Memorizes The Crossruff: How to Score Maximum Tricks by Ruffing in Both Hands The Duck Play in Bridge: When Losing a Trick Wins the Contract The Finesse in Bridge: Master This Essential Card Play Technique The Hold-Up Play in Bridge: When to Duck and When to Win The Law of Total Tricks: Guide to Competitive Bidding Decisions The Rule of 11 in Bridge: How to Use It as Declarer and Defender The Rule of Restricted Choice in Bridge: When to Finesse After an Honor Appears The Safety Play in Bridge: Protecting Your Contract The Squeeze Play in Bridge: A Complete Guide Third Hand Play in Bridge: Master the Art of Playing After Dummy Trump Management in Bridge: When to Draw Trumps and When to Wait Trump Promotion in Bridge: The Defender's Secret Weapon Vacant Places in Bridge: How to Calculate Where Missing Cards Are Vulnerability Strategy: How Vulnerability Changes Every Decision in Bridge When to Finesse vs Play for the Drop: Decision Tables and Percentages